What to Look for When Buying Candles

It is no secret that I love all things pretty. This especially includes scented candles. I have scented candles going all the time, in every room of my home. When I am working, I find it helps to create a calm work environment.

Recently, I was fortunate enough to speak with Nick Rabuchin, Candlemaker at Vancouver Candle Co. Nick started Vancouver Candle Co. to share his love of candles. Handmade in the heart of Vancouver, each candle in the collection is named and inspired by neighbourhoods within the City.

Nick shared the latest on candles and the hottest scents for summer.

What is the difference between chemical scents and natural candles?

Natural candles are made using premium soy wax, perfume-grade fragrance and essential oils and 100 per cent cotton wicks. Look for local and ethically sourced ingredients for candles that are non-toxic and free of potential harmful additives added by others.

Some candle manufacturers use potential harmful ingredients such as waxes made from crude oil by-products, synthetic fragrances, artificial colouring and lead wicks. These candles can release harmful toxins into the air.

What scents are popular for summer?

Summer scents tend to be fresh, clean and light. This includes lemon, jasmine, tuberose, sandalwood -- clean smelling with floral and musk. Other favourite scents in the summer time are grapefruit, peach, red currant -- sharp citrus with a hint of sweetness. Something with a bit deeper smell for summer are scents like -- white tea, black currant, lavender, thyme -- fruity and tart with floral overtones.

How to maintain a candle so it lasts a long time?

For maximum performance, burn your candle for two to three hours at a time. The rule of thumb is to burn a candle for one hour per inch of the container.

Trim your wick to 1/4 inch each time before lighting. This helps control the amount of "fuel" or wax that is present. By keeping the amount of fuel limited, the flame will create ideal complete combustion where carbon particles are absorbed by the flame. This means less soot is formed while the candle is burning.

How to store your candles?

Store your candles in a cool, dry place. Candles made with essential oils are sometimes susceptible to discolouration when exposed to prolonged exposure to sunshine.

Any new trends with candles?

Soy candles are most-popular. Soy burns cleaner and produces a rich, long lasting fragrance that gently fills the room. Natural candles are preferred to synthetic ones. Local is definitely the way to go when buying artisanal products.

Stay away from paraffin-based candles which are made from a crude oil by-product. Try to stay away from coconut-based wax which may be a leading cause of deforestation.

I will continue to enjoy candles and will share my experiences. If you have ideas or questions about natural candles please leave a comment below and I will do my best to find the answer for you.

Your suggestions are always welcome, as I continue on my journey to enjoy life to the fullest. Let's have the very best 2015!